No, I am not an Oil fan, but I know that today's NHL system only allows an organisation to keep young quality talent for only a short time before the cost is prohibitive. The Oil's youth better be madeevident next year by a solid run at and into the playoffs.

The new CBA only allows teams to keep a young solid core for so long. Calgary experienced it for years when poor management had no talent being developed and no talent on the ice. Kevin Lowe making a deal like he did for Dustin Penner shows that he isnt with the "new" program. The coach and GM cant afford to let a slide early in the season kill the whole year.

There are only a handful of skilled teams (GM/Coach) in the NHL currently and those should be the teams that for the current and for years to come that they should be able to ice a quality product.
powell, 2008-03-27 06:50:51

powellm1k

Are you an oilers fan? If so you sure turn your back easily. Yes they started out bad, they didn't have much to work with. Yes Lowe made some bad trades. Super putts Pronger wanted out and he let him go, when he should have said too bad. Mac T can only work with what he's got. Half the line up was rookies or new to the team. How well do you expect them to play? I was at the season opener and have sence been to a total of 4 games this year. Every time I was there they have gotten better. What they need to do is leave things alone in the off season and come out next year to play. Get a cup before the young guys want too much money, I'm thinkin we probably have one more year then they will be up for new contracts.
Dwain, 2008-03-26 23:46:54

well, they needed to win against minny tonight, and they didn't do it. 4 games left, the odds definately aren't in their favour, even if they run the table, they need help... regardless, it's not over til the fat lady sings...
glen, 2008-03-26 22:53:51

I reminded them that they have a skilled team and need a coach and GM to take them to the next level.

they didnt like that so they suspended me.

You cant win the Stanley Cup in the first quarter of the season, but you can certainly lose it....

powellm1k, 2008-03-26 22:00:53

Vince, from that comment in addition to your comments on other threads it is clear to me that you are either a:)mentally disabled in which case feel free to comment all you like or b:)you are just plain idiotic, in which case please stop commenting because other people become dumber just from reading your comments. Wayne Gretzky? Are you for real? You're aware that happened almost 20 years ago right? Even Edmontonians have moved on so it's beyond me why an Ottawa native would make that comment. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure why I'm responding to such a moronic statement. Please disregard.
Norbit, 2008-03-26 20:59:50

I hope not! They should continue being punished for getting rid of Wayne Gretzy!
Vince in Ottawa, 2008-03-26 20:15:30

George and Mel, I appreciate the time you both took to figure out the math and stats and such, but as anyone in Oil Country can tell you, stats and math don't mean a lot this time of year. The math was against them in '06 as well and they came within 2 goals of wining it all. Nashville won't run the table the rest of the way, they just aren't good enough, and Edmonton's all divisional game schedule favors their chances so long as they continue to win.As you say George, we will see but regardless of anything, watch out next year. This team has started arriving in the last month and the future looks very bright.
Norbit, 2008-03-26 19:34:18

Vince,before you ridicule Edmonton for being "The City of Champions",you should read your history books.The name City of Champions refers to a comment the mayor said after the '87 tornado killed 26 people-Edmonton responded like a City of Champions.It wasn't implying anything about sports teams.Vince's comments are something I would expect from a Flames Fan........
ken, 2008-03-26 19:23:27

Not likely; the math is not in Edmonton's favor. Like curling, it's having to watch other team(s) run you out of rocks in final end. Unless 1-2 teams from the 3 or 4 ahead of them completely tank, Edmonton can only watch. Why? Because it's not just about Edmonton. Games at this stage all stay inside the division, someone wins every night, and it becomes simple attrition when more than one team to catch.

If anything, Nashville has best chance to unseat someone else by virtue of playing outside the Northwest Division.
mel, 2008-03-26 18:58:43

I'd like to think they have a realistic chance, Norbit, but when I do the math it just doesn't add up. 92 point will probably be the cut-off in the West this year, and for those who are not there yet they need to play at the following pace over the remaining POINTS left available to them (don't ever forget those damned 3-point games and the damage they can do to another's team's hopes):